Impulse modulation system



G. GUANELLA ETAL IMPULSE MODULATION SYSTEM Feb. 3, I948.

Fild March 15 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 y III 3 7. We INVEJZZTaOR. d awl fi iz fnge KITTORNEY 1948. a. GUANELLA El'AL IMPULSE MODULATION SYSTEM 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 13, 1945 v INVENTOR. Gmlau fiugnella and Paulfiulimger fl TTORN E Y Feb. 3, 1948. e. GUANELLA srm.

IMPULSE MODULATION SYSTEM 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 13, 1945 G i 6 lNVEllz Tfk. d a0 cw 14pm; an BY 6mg,

ATTORNEY ?atented Feb. 3, 1948 UNITED STATES OFFICE Wettingen, Switzerland, iassignors .110 .ii adio Patents Corporation, New lloigk, zlfigl a cogporation of "New York Application March 13, 1&45, -Serial-No.-582 464 In Switzerland March 1,;;1944

;It. is knowntotransmit messages by means of -impulses the durationofiwhich is varied according to, the modulating signal. With the methods ,known up to the present, the length of the impulses is influenced according to a variable modulation Voltage in such a manner that the position ofene impulse edge, i. e., the distance of the edge from the equidistant edges of the other impulses,

corresponds to thervoltage value of the modula tion signal which coincides in time with the edge. .The present; invention relates to improved methods .of and systems for impulse time modulation of the abovev type, and will become more. apparent'from the following detailed description taken in reference totheraccompanying drawings forming part of this specification, and

-..wh erein Figure l isatheoretical diagram illustrative of -a known type of impulse time modulation;

"Figures 2 and 3 are diagrams similar to Figure 1 illustrating the improvements according to the invention 1 Figure 4 isa basicelectrical circuit for carrying out the invention;

, Figures 5v and 6 are theoretical diagrams ex- :planatory of the function of the circuittaccording .to Figure 4;

Figure 7. showsa more complete circuit arrangement for producing impulse time modulation in accordancewith the principlesvof the -in- 30 vention;

1 Figure 8 is atheoretical-diagram explanatory of the function of thecircuit of Figure '7;

. i e sh ws-a modifica on; o a impuls time modulation circuit of the type according. to

Figure 7;

Figures IO-13 are diagrams explanatory of various methods of obtaining time 'modulatedim- -pulse signals;

-Figures 14 and 15 are circuits illustrating further modifications for carrying out theinventipn;

Figure 16 is a'diagram explanatory of the function of the circuitot Figure 15; and

Figure 17 is a diagram illustrating still another .method of realizing the invention in practice.

.21 (x',- (2" 1, :13 ('1),depends-linearly on an instananeou V er/1, (2/1, y'v 1 it o t e ofa modulat g en lis iTheo enst t eimPQJs extendscup. to;:th ;:-.In9n, nt-= h th paralle :straight lines g1 (g'1,..g"1, .g"'.1) intersectethe curve 51,: so that thetimpulse length :01 ishalways proportionalto-the voltage 111. .Witha, smallimpulse frequency, this method results in consider- .5 able non-linear distortion, that is to say, thelow frequency signals obtained from the impulsesuby demodulation, such as by low-pass filteringmontai-n disturbing components whichconsist ofcombined---frequencies .of. the impulsesand the signal 410 frequenciesor their-harmonics.

-Thesei disadvantages: are avoided -according to the present invention -Which -comprises a method and arrangement for impulse modulation wherein the distances of. at least one-edge .of each im- 15 pulse measured from equidistant-points are'derived iromvalues of -the-modulating ivolt age curve occurning at equidistant times.

The method-according to-the invention possesses theadvantage of'a good non-lineardistor- 20 tion factor. Whenthe extreme side band ire- --quenc ies are suppressed, a normal amplitude modulated high frequency signal remains. If the extreme side bands are also transmitted, the pos- -sibilityof-noise elimination-by means of amplietude "-fi1trationprovides an even greater improvement in reception than with frequency modula- -tion. The arrangement-for performing the--in- :vention avoids the use of. expensive modulation transformers.

=--'-Iwo waysoi performingthe method according :to the inventioniare-explained in the following discussion-with reference to Figures 2 and 3- of the drawing. In Figure 2; the lengths xz, :v"2,-m"'2 of theimpulses are controlled in accordance with the areas'F, 'F--and F",- respectively, obtained fr-om) the wmodulating signal -S2. The areas :=F '.(average-. values -in time) follow-each other. at .equaliintervals- Tu andextend over equally long time integration periods.

It isalso possibleto change the position of-an impulse ofeconstantlength as a function of the -voltage values; asshown inFigure3. In this case, both .impulseiedges are. shifted in "the same direc- :;tion asta' functiomofxthe voltage. value ya. :The

.45 -original position of thegimpulses is shownibydotdesi nated. as amplitude. time. modulation and .thataccording. to'Eigure 3., as-phase time .modulaljhe difference between-the new method .acco din t the; ccsent-inventionla ak w A .mcthe ttsvv ll be evident trom the; drawing. ,With

v. r 3 g V the known method, the times at which the voltage values for determining the modulation are obtained occur at points whose distances from each other vary substantially, while with the new method the intervals of time T are equal." The different distances with the known edge method,- as can be seen in Figure 1, are due to the fact that the voltage values which determine the position of the impulse edges change their position in accordance with the instantaneous magnitudes of the modulating signal if the voltageofthe'signal S1 is not constant. I I I spaced at constant intervals of time T as shown in Figures 2 and 3. These intervals form a period.

\ sesame The left and right impulse edge or the right and left interval edge may be shifted by the same.

amount in a positive or negative direction. The signal values determining the modulation may also be half a period removed from each other, whereby the left and right impulse edge is .controlled alternately in accordance with successive signal values. The signal values determining the modulation may have a greater or lesser time lead depending upon the manner in which themethod is applied in practice. The method'may also be modified by varying only one edge. According to Figures 2 and 3,; the modulation signals extend over an interval of time which is short compared with the duration of a, period. According to another modification, the modula tion signal voltage may extend over about half a period. The relation between the length of the time-modulated impulses and the signal determining the modulation may be linear, but in certain cases, for instance when changes in the speech or music volume relation are'desired, it may be of advantage to use a non-linear relationship. 7 7

Several practical examples of apparatus for performing the method according tothe inven- 'nected rectifier G1 which may be of the dry disc type, a diode, or the like; This rectifier should have a very high blocking resistance and a very small passing resistance. An advantage of this arrangement is the fact that the capacitance of the parallel-connected rectifier does not have any disturbing efiect.

The charging and discharging process which 7 "covers a complete period t1t5 is thus divided v. intofthe following four intervals shown in Figure 6':'

With the method according to'the invention, chargmg the signals determining the 'modulation' are "n+: storagepenod its- 154 discharging period V current fiow'through rectifier G1.

Point's' ti and is are always fixed and in the same. position; only point 134 exists variable.

' There is proportionality between the maximum tion will be described in the following, Figure l 7 shows the fundamental circuit arrangement in diagrammatic form. The grid of the charging tube V1. (pentode) shown in this figure is'conltrolledbyamplitude-modulated equally long impulses U which are applied to terminals I and 2' and whose voltage values represent the shape of the modulating signal in such a manner that, during the duration of the impulses a charging voltage Emax at condenser and the time ts-tr,

since the discharging current JE is substantially constant. During the: time interval t4-t5, voltage Ue remains constant, since the total current JE passes through'the rectifier G1; It is evident that point t4 which'determines the length of the c time-mcdulated impulse depends on voltage values of the modulating voltage curve obtained atequi'distant instants of time, since the charging current'Ji, is controlled byequidistant input ditions are particularly simple when the charging time ti+-t2 covers half a period and the storresistors R; and R9, respectively. More particw current J L flows in the anode circuit and tubeVL is completely blocked before and after the impulses.

If the curve of the anodecurrent J as a function of the grid voltage V, as shown in Figure 5, is i assumed to be an ideal characteristic for charging tube VL, thenthe shape of JL will conform with that of U1. Hence, condenser U isccharged negatively, its voltage being indicated at U0;

After the charging is completed or after a certain time delay thereafter, condenser C dis lay period. The discharge current Jr: is substan,

tially constant due to the pentode Vn acting as a constant current device, and'it is essential that only the current Jr. or JE should flow at one and the same time, but never both currents simultaneously. Due to the discharging current Jn, the condenser voltage will'again increase. From the instant when voltage Uc has become. posi denser but will pass through the parallel-conlarly, one of the resistors R1 is connected between the plate and cathode of oneof the tubes 7 V1. in series with condenser C4, while theiother resistor R1 is likewise connected between the plate and oathode 'of the other tube V1. in series with the condenser C Condenser Ca and C3 are in'turn shunted by rectifiers Ga and G1 re-'- spectively, in a manner similar as shown in Fig. 7 1.; Resistor Ra is connected in' series with the rectifier G1, and resistor R is in series with the v I condenserC The screen gridv voltages of tubes Vs are stabilized by means of the reactors Dr It is preferable to use a screen grid voltage approximately equal to. the

and condensers C;

anode voltage. Resistances R2 are connected in the cathode leads of tubes VE.

i ing of tube VE'. It is to be noted that with the tive, current J n no longer flows through the confiltering chokes Dr and decoupling condensers C 'not only the voltages at impulse frequency but also low frequency voltages will. be smoothed or filtered. With resistances R2 voltage can be obtained.

v I The blocking voltage for the control grids of the tubes VE is produced by means of resistances R1, These a smallgrid bias 7' and R These .voltages Ea. It is therefore advisable to use Ee dire'ctly instead of Eu'for forming the left side 'ofthe period. By allowing'Ec and-E to'pass through a class C amplifier the undesirable lower-part of the voltage curves' are cutoff so that the combination'Ec and E will provide impulseswi'th 1 5 two variable edges.

A slightly modified arrangement which may 'be'used for the separate formation of the left and right impulse edges is shown in"Figure9.

This arrangement differs from the one' preceding in that the resistances-Ra and R are replaced by resistances R. and R"- arranged in serieswith the parallel circuit formed by condensers Grand 0,; with rectifiers G1 and G1 respectively. The

other elements'are similar'to and correspond'to those of Figure 7.

With the arrangement -'shown iii-Figure 9, it is advantageous to obtainthe desired impulses from the condenser voltages EC and Ec Voltage ""Ee that is the voltage'of condenser Gamay for instance be'combined with the voltage drop Ea across resistance R, so that a Voltage curve such as is shown in Figure 10:: is obtained. The charging current may become so small that the edge K in Figure 10a is not clearlydefined whilst the edge K remains quite sharp, since the discharge "current is relatively "large and remains -unchanged. By superposing' the voltage Eafrom resistance Rfla elear'and 'sharply defined-right edge is obtained. Thetime-modulated impulses "formed in this manner have a constant'right and a variable left edge. The left impulseedge can be obtained directly from Et +RR" byapplying this voltage to the 'grid'of an amplifier tube. .The negative grid'bias' of this tube should 'be'so selected that only the top part-of the curve .above the horizontal line' shown in Figure'IO is allowed to pass.

The following possibilities exist for forming the right impulse edge:

(a) Voltage'Ec i. e. the'voltage across condenser C is applied through a potential divider .to the grid of a class A amplifier tube, a voltage dJa being taken from the terminals of an idealzreactor in the anode circuitof this tube. .This

voltage follows the shape shownin. Figurellb. .Figure 11a shows E0 as a function of the time t.

(b) If the voltage drop-Ea" across resistance R" is superposed on-Ec the curve shown in Figure 12a is obtained. Similarly as in the case .of

.Figure 10, the lower'part of the voltage curve can be cut ofi by passingit through a classC iamplifier. A voltage. Ea as shown inFigure- 12b is then formedacross an ohmic-anode resistance. If Ea isadded tothe signal ER whichis displaced by 90 the right edge is obtaineddirectly. Thisris shown in Figure 13. Part a of thisfigure shows the signal ER andthe voltage impulses Ea. of; Figure v.l2bfrom which by addi- -tion.the impulses PM of Figure l3bare formed,;.;7

easants ithe rightedges' ofi-these impulses iridieated byiii beingvariable.

It-has been-found thatwiththe time modulation method-according to the invention the distortion factor is= very-=small,-" it ideal constructional elements are available. "This'is, 'however, not-always the case, and particularly= the' lower part or the charging-tubevn characteristic causes considerable 'distortion withashi'gh degree pfamodillation. A 100% modulation means that-signals linear-relationship.

' The --charg-ing 'current: of condenser 'C can :be reduced to a very small value-without reducing the anode current Jr. to zero. This -is-achieved with the arrangement'Shown in'Figure .lby producing' a compensation current Jr: in :the opposite direction. This -is obtained in a 'simple manner by providing -a resistance R' between the screen grid andcathodeof discharge tubekVE. Since the voltage on-'the -screen grid andthus also the-voltage drop across resistance R ismaintained constant by reactoriDrand condenser Ci, current JK is a constant direct current. This 0 latter also flows.during 'thedischarging periOd shown in the drawings;a con'denser ischarged by a current depending on the'iinstantaneous modu- Jatinga signaL wh'ereupon' the stored? power lsidlS- 'zchargedi at :constant tour-rent, .so that the vti-metzof and is not detrimental,.= since on:the-contrarytthe constant discharging current of tubeVn can. thus be reduced correspondingly.

Another arrangement for: impulsetime modud lation is showrr1in -Figureil5. this..case,f;.im-

pulses U1 whichrepresent'ithe shape? ofthemodulating Voltage tare :applied to the; control gridaiof tube VL. The' -perio'dic discharge ini'this CaSEJiS through a gas discharge tube-Van whose control grid is controlled for -thispurposeibysthe sawtooth oscillations Uz -:as -shown iinilTigure. 1Gb. Condenser C isrcharge'd: to :La :varying degreeraccordingto the magnitude-of: the'impulsesUnand the higher the'voltage torwhich itis: charged-the smaller will beitheiignition voltage of tube Von; that is to say theesooner Will'the.ignitioncaused by l the saw-tooth voltage Uzroccm. .:This :state of affairs isirepresented.nrFigure. 15. EC; Figure 16a, indicates the condenser voltage and U2,:"Fl'gure1'6b; the curveoftthessawtooth shapedlignition voltage. Thetpoints of .ignition'are indicat- .BdJby'Z1, Z2..and.Z3. :Itxis obvious'that the igni tion must'xnotecoincide withzTthe charging? process.

Inthe constructionaliexam-ples of theinvention discharge*xdepends-xon the accumulated energy. The invention is. of :icourse"notrrestricted to this possibility. The power canxalso sbeistored fcr instance by means of an induction coilin the form of magnetic'energy.

A fundamentallyxdifierent constructionalzfiorm .of the invention may berealized if the message to be transmittedds recorded on'za' carrier. example of such an arrangement isshown iii-Eigure 1'7. Thezmodulation signal-S4 recorded-ones.

.film carrier is produced by thetransluce'nt strips .St' which are the onlytranslucent parts of the film. In orderxtoproduceelectric time-modulated signals, the. film is moved in thedirection of the arrow and passes beneath the translucent strip-.ST'Y. Thisilatter: strip is continuously 11,

gies. V V 6. In an impulse time modulation system,

luminated from above so that the time during which the light passes through both strips ST and St simultaneduslyis a measure of the heightrof the strip St being scanned, provided that-the film movesat a constant speed. The pulses may be obtained for instance .by means oira photo-electric cell located underneath the -film near the translucent strip St", the current -of this cell indicating the duration of the light 1. In a method of impulse time modulation,

the steps of producing energy pulses of equal width and varying in amplitude in proportion to equally spaced momentary amplitudes of a modulating signal, and converting said energies into. impulses of substantially constant amplitude and having at least one edge spaced from the edges of correspondingly equally spaced successive time periods by intervals varying in proportion to the amplitudes of the respective si al energies.

2. In a method of impulse time modulation, the

steps of producing energy. pulses of equal width and varying in amplitude in proportion to equally spaced momentary amplitudes of a modulating signal, and converting said energies into impulses of substantially constant amplitude having one edge coinciding with and'having their opposite edges spaced from the correspondingly equally spaced edges of successive time periods by inter vals varying in proportion to the amplitudes of the respective signal energies.

3. In a method of impulse time modulation, the steps of producingenergy pulses of equal width and varying in amplitude in proportion to equally spaced momentary amplitudes of a modulating signal, and converting said energies into impulses of substantially constant amplitude and havin both their edges spaced from the correspondingly equally spaced edges of successive time periods by intervals varying in proportion to the amplitudes of the respective signal energies.

4; In an impulse time modulation system, means for producing successive energy pulses of equal width and varying in amplitude in propor tion to equally spaced momentary amplitudes ofv a modulatin signal, and means for converting said energies into impulses of substantially constant amplitude and having at least one edge spaced from the edges of correspondingly equally spaced successive time periods at intervals varying in proportion to the amplitudes of the respective signal energies.

g 5. In an impulse time modulation system, 7

means for producing successive energy pulses of equal width and varying in amplitude in proportion to equally spaced varying amplitudes Of a modulating signal, and means for converting said energies into impulses of substantially constant amplitude having one edge coinciding with and having their opposite edges'spaced' from the correspondingly equally spaced edges of successive time periods by intervals varying in. proportionto the amplitudes of therespective signal ener- Generally, in forming the time! means'forfproducing energy pulses of'cqualwidth and varying in amplitude, in proportion to equally spaced momentary amplitudes of a modulating signal, and means. for converting said energies into impulses of, substantially constant amplitude and having both their edges spaced from the correspondingly equally spaced edges of sue cessive time periods at. intervals varying in proportion to the energies. V l

7. In an impulse time modulation system, means for successively interrupting a modulating signal to produce successive energy pulses of'sub stantially equal length and spacing and having amplitudes representative of the respective mo.- mentary signal amplitudes, and means for converting said energy pulses into impulses of sub-' vals varying in proportion to the. amplitudes oi the respective signal energies.

v8. In an impulse time modulation system,

' ;means*for successively interrupting a modulating tary signal amplitudes. an energy storage device, 7

a constant current device connected to said storage device, and means for successively storing said energy pulses upon s aid storing device'a'n'd to subsequently discharge the stored energy through said device duringthe :pulse spacing intervals;

'9. In an impulse time modulation system, means for periodically interrupting a modulating signal voltage to produce successive voltage pulses of substantially equal length and spacing and having amplitudes representative of the respective momentary signal amplitudes, a condenser, aconstant currentdevice connected across said condenser, and means for successively charging said j V condenser by said'voltage pulses and subsequently discharging it throughsaid device 7 during the pulse spacing intervals. V

V 'l0. In animpulsetime modulation system," means for periodically interrupting a modulating signal voltage to produce successive voltage pulses of substantially equal length and spacing and having amplitudes representative of the respective momentary signal amplitudes, a condenser, a

pentode discharge tube having its anodecathode V pedance' means in serieswiiith said condenser and tube for deriving a pulse time modulated output voltage,

1 tional impedance connected across said condenser and having a current passing direction in"re-' spect to said condenser being opposite to the cur- 11. 1n an flmpulse time fmodulation system, means'for periodically interruptinga modulating 7 signal voltage to producesuccessive voltage pulses of substantially equal length and spacing and having amplitudes representative of the respec- V ode path connected across said condenser, means forcharging said condenser bysaid voltage pulses and successively discharging it through saidtube during' the pulse spacing intervals, a uni-direcrent passing direction of said tube, and aload impedance'in series with said uni directionalirne amplitudes of the respective signal agen as pedancerIor;derivinggarpulseetimennodulated outaput vo1tage-.--

12.. In, an 'impu-lsea-time modulation: system, means for; periodically interrupting-a modulating. signal voltage -tozproduce-successive voltage pulses of substantially, equal length and-spacing s and having amplitudes -.-representative ofathe respective-momentary signal .ramplitudes; ,acondenser, a pentodedischargestube havingits anode-cathode path connected: across saidicondenser, means for charging said condenser by ,saidyoltageepulses, and successively dischargingit through saidtub-e. during the pulse,spacingaintervals,imeansto, .prevent current flow through said ,tube .during ,the condenser charging periods, andJloadirnpedmce. means in series with saiddcondensenandtube for deriving a pulse time modulatedoutput voltage.

13. In. an impulse. time modulation system, means foriinterrupting a modulating signal voltage to produce successivevoltagc pulses of sub;-. stantially equal length andjspacing, and 'having amplitudes varyin ein roporti'on to the .momentary,v signal amplitudes, .afirst' electron, discharge tube havingat least acathode, a .control grid, and ananode, a. condenser. connectedbetween' said anode and cathode, meansvfo'r applyingsaid'volt age pulses ,to said 4 grid; to intermittently charge said. condenser. tov at varying voltage in ,accordance with the respective pulse amplitudes; a second electron discharge tubeshaving a cathode, a control grid, a screengridfasuppressor grid,'and' an.anode, and..,having,its anode-cathode, path connected. in series with the anode-cathode path ofsaid first discharge tube, whereby to discharge said.condenser at substantially constant current duringthe. pulse spacing intervals,:and load impedance means-in the discharge pathof said con denser for dcrivinga pulse time "modulated output voltage.

14. In 7 an impulse time .modulation system; means. for. interrupting .a,.modulating signal", voltage to. produce successive voltage pulses'of substantially equallength andqspacinggand' having amplitudes varying in propprtion'to ,the momentary signal. amplitudes, aiirstelectron discharge tube having at least a cathode, a control grid, and an. anode, a condenser connectedibetween'said" anode and cathode, means for 'applying saidvoltagepulses to said gridito'intermittentIyJcharge said condenser to a varyingvolt'age in accord ance with the respective pulse amplitudes; aseond electron discharge .tube'having a cathode, a control gridyaiscreen grid, a suppressor grid, and an anode, and having "its anode-cathode path connected in series with theeanode-cathode path tary signal amplitudes, a first electron discharge tube having at least a cathode, a control grid, and an anode, a condenser connected between said anode and cathode, means for applying said volt age pulses to said grid to intermittently charge said condenser to a varying voltage in accordance with the respective.- pulse ,amplitudes, a second.

an anode, and having its anode-cathode path, connected in series-With the..anode-cathode path of said first discharge ;tube, whereby to discharge said condenser at substantially, constant current during the pulse spacing intervals,- a. unidirec-- tional impedance-. connected across the anode cathode ath. of-said second tube to maintain a predetermined steady discharge current therecharge circuit of said zcondenser and'said second tube for derivin e pnlseetime, modulated outputvoltage..-.

16. In" an impulse-time: modulation system,-.

- means for interrupting a modulating signal,v0lt

age to produce successive: voltage pulses of 'substantiallyrequallength and spacing and, having amplitudes varyingiin: proportion to the momen-- tary signal amplitudes; a first electron discharge tube having'attleastiaqcathode, a control grid;

and an anode, a condenser connected-between said anode and:cathode;means forxapplying said voltage pulses to saidlgridtointermittently charge said condenser to "avaryingevoltage inaccordance': with the respectiveepulse ramplitudes; a second:

electron dischargetuhe having apcathode; a control grid, a screen grid, 'a. suppressorigrid, and an anode, and havingdts= anode cathode path con nected'in series :wlthithe anodeecathode path of;

said first discharge. tube, whereby to discharge.

said condenser at isubstantially-constant current during the'puls'esspacing;intervals, a uni-directional impedanceconnectedacross said second tube to pass a predeterminedssteady discharge current therethrough, means for-biasing the conpulses ofsubstantially equalfilength and spacing and having amplitudes representativeof there spective instantaneous signal amplitudes, a condenser, a resistance, a pentode-discharge tube having itsanode-cath'odepatlf connected'across 7 said condenser in -seriesvv-ith said resistance, and

means for charging said 'condenser by said volt agepulses and discharging it through said tube during the pulse spacin -intervals;

18. In an impulsetime modulation system, means for periodically interrupting r a modulating signal voltage 'to producesuccessive voltage pulses of sub'stantially' equal length 'andspacing and having amplitudesrepresentative of "the erespec tive instantaneous signal-amplitudes; a-condenser, a resistance; a pentode discharge tube having its': anode-cathode path connected across- -said conand an anode, a resistance, a condenser connected between said cathode and anode in series with said resistance, means for applying said voltage pulses to said grid to intermittently charge said condenser to a varying voltage in accordance with the respective pulse amplitudes, a second electron l5 discharge tube having a cathode, a control grid, a screen grid, a suppressor grid, and an anode and having its anode-cathode path connected in series with the anode-cathode path of said first tube,

whereby to discharge said condenser at substantially constant current during the pulse spacing intervals, and a uni-directional impedance connected across said condenser and having a current passing direction in respect to said condenser opposite to the current passing direction of said second tube.

20. In an impulse time modulation system, means for interrupting a modulating signal voltage to produce successive voltage pulses of substantially equal length and spacing and having amplitudes varying in proportion to the momentary signal amplitudes, a first electron discharge tubehaving at least a cathode, a control grid,

and an anode, a resistance, a condenser connected between said cathode and anode in series I with said resistance, means for applying said voltage pulses to said grid to intermittently charge said condenser to a varying-voltage in accordance with the respective pulse amplitudes, a second electron discharge tube having a cathode, a com trol grid, a screen grid, a suppressor grid, and

an anode and having its anode-cathode path connected in series with the anode-cathode path of said first tube, whereby to discharge said condenser at substantially constant current during the pulse spacing intervals, auni-directional impedance connected across said condenser and having a current passing direction in'respect to said condenser opposite to the current passing direction of said second tube to maintain a predetermined steady discharge current through said second tube, and means for biasing the control grid of said second tube to prevent a dis-' charge therethrough of said condenser during the condenser charging periods.

- 21. In an impulse time modulation system, means for interrupting a modulating signal voltage to produce successive voltage pulses of substantially equal length and spacing and having amplitudes varying in proportion to the momentary signal amplitudes, a condenser, a pentode discharge tube having a cathode, a control grid,

a screen grid, a suppressor grid,- and an anode and having its anode-cathode path connected 65 across said condenser, means for charging said condenser by said voltage pulses and successively discharging it throughsaid tube during the pulse spacing intervals, a uni-directional impedance connected across the anode-cathode path of said tube and having a current passing direction in' respect to said condenser being opposite to the currentpassing directionrof said tubeyachoke coil connected between the anode and screen grid of said tube, a further condenser connected between the, screen grid and cathode of said tube, and means for biasing said control grid to substantially prevent a discharge of said condenser during the charging periods thereof;

22. In an impulse time modulation system,"

and having its anode-cathode path connected across said condenser, means for charging said condenser by said voltage pulses and successively discharging it through said tube during the pulse spacing intervals, a, uni-directional impedance connected across-the, anode-cathode ipath of said tube and having a current passing direction in respect to said condenser being opposite to the current passing direction of said tube, a choke coil connected between the anode and screen grid of said tube, a condenser-shunted resistance connected between the screen grid andcathode of said tube, and means for biasing said control grid to substantially prevent discharge of said condenser during the; charging periods thereof.

23. In an impulse time modulation system, means for interrupting a, modulating signal voltage to produce successive voltage pulses 'of'substantially equal length and spacing and having amplitudes varying in proportion to the momen tary signal amplitudes, a condenser, a gaseous discharge tube having a cathode, an anode, and

a control grid and having its anode-cathode path connected across said condenser, means for successively charging said condenser by said voltage pulses and subsequently discharging it through said tube during the pulse spacing intervals, and

means for applying a periodic linear sweep voltage to said control grid in synchronism with the condenser discharging periods.

\ GUSTAY GUANELLA.

, PAUL GUTTINGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

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